SQE1 July 2022 Assessment Report

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a single rigorous assessment for all aspiring solicitors. It consists of two parts: SQE1, which tests candidates’ functioning legal knowledge and SQE2 which tests candidates’ practical legal skills. These assessments ran on 21st and 25th July, and 4th and 8th August 2022

This report includes statistics that provide some simple feedback on the assessments and their performance. The table below shows the number of candidates, the passing score, and the overall pass rate for FLK1 and FLK2. It also shows the number of candidates who sat both parts of SQE1 and their pass rate.

Statistic	FLK1	FLK2	SQE1 overall
Passing Score	56%	55%	-
Candidates (All)	1899	1981	1829
Pass Rate (All Candidates)	64%	55%	53%
Candidates (First attempt only)	1791	1768	1736
Pass rate (First attempt only)	67%	59%	55%

Descriptive Statistics

The following table shows the average (mean) score, the standard deviation, median, minimum, maximum and range of observed scores for FLK1 and FLK2.

Statistic	FLK1	FLK2
Mean %	59.1	56.1
Std. Dev %	12.3	12.8
Median %	60	57
Min %	21	21
Max %	92	89
Range %	71	68

Score Distribution Charts

These charts show the distribution of scores for FLK1 and FLK2, with a red line showing the passing score required for each assessment.

FLK1 Score Distribution

Y axis showing Frequency

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1899 candidates

Pass mark = 56%

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X axis showingScore (%)

FLK2 Score Distribution

Y axis showing Frequency

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1981 candidates

Pass mark = 55%

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X axis showingScore (%)

This chart shows the scores for FLK1 and FLK2 divided into quintiles. Each quintile shows the range of scores achieved by a fifth of the candidates, with Q1 showing the top fifth and Q5 showing the bottom fifth of scores.

Y axis showing Test

FLK1

FLK2

Graph key showingQuintile

Graph key showing how Q1is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q2is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q3is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q4is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q5is represented in the graph

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X axis showingScore (%)

Performance by Practice Area

These charts show the scores for different practice areas within FLK1 and FLK2 divided into quintiles. Each quintile shows the range of scores achieved by a fifth of the candidates, with Q1 showing the top fifth and Q5 showing the bottom fifth of scores

This chart show the scores for different practice areas within FLK1.

Y axis showing Practice area

BLP

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Graph key showingQuintile

Graph key showing how Q1 is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q2is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q3is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q4is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q5is represented in the graph

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X axis showingScore (%)

This chart show the scores for different practice areas within FLK2.

Y axis showing Practice area

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Graph key showingQuintile

Graph key showing how Q1 is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q2is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q3is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q4is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q5is represented in the graph

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X axis showingScore (%)

Pass Rates

The SRA collects diversity and socio-economic data to help understand how candidates with different characteristics and backgrounds perform in the assessments. The data categories are consistent with data collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Social Mobility Commission.

Based on responses to the online diversity survey, completed ahead of assessment registration, the following is provided in each table for FLK1 and FLK2:

Number of candidates in each group (n)
Proportion of candidates in each group (%)
Average score within each group (Mean Score %)
Pass rate for each group (Pass Rate %)

The number and proportion of candidates along with the pass rate is also provided for SQE1.

These tables provide data for the first attempt candidates, and mean scores and pass rates are not reported for groups with fewer than 10 candidates. Performance of all candidates, including resitting candidates, will be presented in the SQE Annual Report.

What is your ethnic group?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
Asian / Asian British	569	32	60	65	563	32	56	56	553	32	54
Black / Black British	122	7	51	40	117	7	48	25	115	7	23
Mixed / multiple ethnic groups	69	4	60	72	64	4	58	63	64	4	58
Other ethnic group	118	7	55	52	118	7	53	47	116	7	39
White	778	43	61	73	771	44	59	67	756	44	63
Prefer not to say	135	8	62	71	135	8	58	61	132	8	58

Do you consider yourself to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act 2010?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
Yes	77	4	56	61	80	5	52	43	76	4	41
No	1615	90	60	67	1591	90	57	59	1563	90	56
Prefer not to say	99	6	63	70	97	5	59	63	97	6	60

What is your sex?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
Female	1135	63	58	62	1119	63	56	56	1097	63	52
Male	602	34	62	74	594	34	58	63	585	34	61
Other	1	<1	-	-	1	<1	-	-	1	<1	-
Prefer not to say	53	3	65	75	54	3	60	65	53	3	64

Which age category are you in?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
16-24	369	21	58	62	368	21	57	59	361	21	56
25-34	990	55	61	71	980	55	58	60	963	55	57
35-44	302	17	59	61	293	17	55	57	288	17	51
45-54	71	4	57	55	67	4	52	46	66	4	45
55-64	11	<1	52	36	11	<1	51	36	10	<1	40
65+	0	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	0	-	-
Prefer not to say	48	3	64	73	49	3	59	59	48	3	58

Did either of your parents attend university by the time you were 18?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
Yes, one or more of my parents attended university	894	50	60	69	880	50	57	61	863	50	58
No, neither of my parents attended university	666	37	59	62	658	37	56	56	646	37	52
Do not know / not sure	46	3	60	74	47	3	57	57	45	3	60
Prefer not to say	185	10	60	66	183	10	57	58	182	10	56

Have you undertaken any qualifying work experience?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
No	281	16	57	59	278	16	56	55	273	16	49
Yes	996	56	60	67	988	56	57	58	968	56	55
Prefer not to say	514	29	61	70	502	28	58	62	495	29	58

What is your highest level of education?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
Qualifications below degree level	15	<1	58	53	15	<1	55	67	15	<1	40
At least an undergraduate degree	1622	91	60	67	1604	91	57	59	1574	91	56
Not applicable	70	4	56	51	67	4	53	52	66	4	48
Prefer not to say	84	5	60	64	82	5	56	52	81	5	51

What was your undergraduate degree classification?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
1st	321	18	64	81	319	18	62	71	315	18	70
2:1	779	43	61	71	773	44	58	62	761	44	59
2:2	213	12	54	46	211	12	51	42	201	12	35
3rd	17	<1	49	24	17	<1	45	24	17	<1	24
Distinction	34	2	62	71	31	2	57	68	31	2	61
Commendation	9	<1	-	-	8	<1	-	-	8	<1	-
Pass	45	3	50	40	44	2	46	27	44	3	25
Not applicable	123	7	60	67	119	7	56	60	118	7	58
Prefer not to say	79	4	59	62	80	5	55	54	77	4	48

Are you a qualified lawyer?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
Yes	739	41	61	70	719	41	57	60	712	41	57
No	1052	59	59	64	1049	59	56	58	1024	59	54

What type of school did you attend for the most time between the ages of 11 and 16?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
State-run or state-funded school	459	26	59	66	452	26	57	59	440	25	55
State-run or state-funded school - selective	228	13	59	68	226	13	57	62	221	13	58
Independent or fee-paying school	163	9	62	70	159	9	59	62	157	9	60
Independent or fee-paying school (bursary covering 90% or more of tuition)	25	1	62	68	24	1	59	79	24	1	67
Attended school outside the UK	728	41	59	65	722	41	56	56	711	41	53
I don't know	10	<1	61	70	8	<1	-	-	8	<1	-
Other	10	<1	56	60	10	<1	53	60	10	<1	50
Prefer not to say	168	9	61	69	167	9	57	59	165	10	58

What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were aged about 14?	FLK1				FLK2				SQE1
	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates		Pass Rate %
	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Mean %	Pass Rate %	n	%	Pass Rate %
Professional background	925	52	60	68	914	52	57	60	898	52	57
Intermediate background	225	13	60	68	221	13	57	59	217	13	56
Working class background	252	14	58	62	249	14	56	55	243	14	52
Other background	72	4	56	56	71	4	53	51	69	4	45
Prefer not to say	317	18	60	68	313	18	57	58	309	18	55

SQE1 July 2022 Assessment Report

Descriptive Statistics

Score Distribution Charts

Performance by Practice Area

Pass Rates

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